Developments
p. 36 · Read in the full issue
Big Industrial
In Fiji
From a Suva correspondent Important developments in two of Fiji’s major industries—sugar and copra production—have occurred just when public attention was focused on the by-elections to fill the nine vacancies in the Legislative Council.
Both developments are concerned with the relationships between growers and millers in each industry; and only persons deeply involved can really understand the technical points now under argument. But they are important.
A new sugar-cane contract, between millers and growers, will be required next year. Drafts now are being prepared for the Sugar Advisory Council.
When the Alliance Party, which is directly influenced by the Chief Minister, Ratu Mara, met in pre election convention in July, it an nounced that it would recommend 13 changes in the existing contract.
The rival Federation Party also sought many changes.
Chief Minister Mara was attacked by the Federation on the proposed 13 changes; and was obliged to ex plain and defend them. As some of these changes were in favour of the growers, and against the sugar com pany, the Chief Minister was made to appear as a critic of the company.
The mouthpieces of the Federation Party have been attacking the Chief
Minister with such virulence that the campaign has tended to become anti- Mara just as much as anti-British.
In any case, the sugar industry has now become involved in political wrangling, which everybody, wanted to avoid.
Thus with copra. When copra prices nose-dived in July, the copra milling (or Carpenter) interests protected themselves by announcing some pretty drastic cuts in the rates and conditions under which they accept copra from the growers. The new rates were criticised by Fiji interests, who argued that the millers should carry a larger share of the losses represented by the calamitous change in the market.
Public comment
The copra-millers, of course, defended themselves and, as there is no government marketing organisa tion such as the Papua-New Guinea Copra Marketing Board, there was public comment. The government spokesmen especially the Chief Minister became slightly involved on the side of the copra-producers (mostly Europeans and Fijians).
Again, it appeared to be a little embarrassing for the Chief Minister, for it is the policy of his government to maintain good relations with the big corporations which control sc much of the economy of Fiji.
It only goes to show the difficulties that beset the feet of an honest Chiel Minister, who tries to walk in fail balance between Fiji’s producers anc the powerful corporations which buj their products.
Fiji's new Tradewinds Hotel, in the Bay of Islands four miles from Suva, is attracting not only tourists for its beds, but yachts and cruising yachtsmen for its mooring berths. Many cruising yachtsmen are finding the Tradewinds area a convenient spo to spend a week or two between islands.